Ever since King John granted a charter to the village of Reach to hold an annual fair it has been the duty of the Mayor of Cambridge and the Aldermen to open the event. Back then the officials would have travelled by river, on horseback or in a horse-drawn carriage. In recent years the party has travelled by limousine or luxury coach, but this year the Mayor will cycle there.
Cambridge Cycling Campaign and Cycle Cambridge have organised the bike ride on bank holiday Monday 2nd May. The event starts from 9:30am outside the Guildhall in Cambridge, is open to everyone and is an ideal family day out.
The ride goes down to the river at Jesus Green and follows cycle route 51 along Riverside and on towards Newmarket Road Park and Ride site picking up more riders on the way. Beyond Cambridge the route follows quiet roads and cycle paths to the village fair. Weather permitting we are expecting 500 riders.

The ride is timed to arrive for the opening ceremony at noon, when the mayor of Cambridge and Aldermen throw pennies to the delight of children. After stopping for a couple of hours the ride returns to Cambridge by a newly opened cycle route through the fens. The ride is
expected to return to Market Square by around 4pm.
Organising the event, campaign member Simon Nuttall said:

"Reach village is about 10 miles from the centre of Cambridge, and there is a good quality cycle route all the way. Without too much effort it is easy to get to the village in about an hour and half. We suggested this to the mayor and she thought so too, and we believe
that this may be the first time in its 800 year history that a mayor of Cambridge has ridden a bicycle to Reach to open the annual May Fair."